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Showing results for tags 'Health and safety'.
Found 124 results
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Content ArticleIn this opinion piece for the BMJ, the authors argue that shortcomings in protection from contracting Covid-19 at work arise from legislation being ignored. They argue that government departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education, did not adequately emphasise the legal obligations of employers to protect their employees health during the pandemic. The article states that laws dating back to the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act make it a legal requirement for employers to ensure the health of their employees and of patients, students, and site visitors.
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Content ArticlePatients falling (falling, slipping) is considered one of the most important patient safety risks in the elderly, in health institutions (hospitals, health centres..., etc.) in particular, and more generally in daily life activities at home, out shopping, etc. In this article I call for a cultural transformation for avoiding falls: from a culture of patient safety that focuses on falls within health facilities to a wider societal culture that must be adhered to by all members of society to prevent the risks of falling in the elderly and other groups at high-risk (including those with specific diseases, disabilities due to congenital causes, accidents...).
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EventThis session will focus on blood and bodily fluids exposure, including sharps injuries as well as their risk factors and prevention strategies. This webinar will present the 2020 RCN study and the 2022 UK NHS Trust study of sharps injury (SI) among UK HCW and, by comparing these results with other countries, question whether UK 2013 Sharps Regulations went far enough, and whether increased emphasis may be required on reporting, recording and implementation of effective prevention strategies. Learning outcomes: Define sharps injuries (SI); the four steps in sharps usage that place staff at risk; and the top two staff groups at risk of SI. Discuss the incidence of SI in the UK and UK HCW staff groups compared with international incidences. Appraise whether facility’s reporting and recording of SI enables benchmarking of the efficacy of their preventive strategies. Define three prevention strategies proven to reduce SI. Register
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EventEnergy-based devices, lasers and diathermy are some of the most commonly used pieces of equipment in operating theatres today. Dangerous emissions can be produced that affect the respiratory systems of everyone in the operating theatre. This study day will look at the occupational hazards of exposure to surgical plume in the operating theatre, as well as the associated risks to the surgical team, patients and visitors. It will also highlight how to assess risk and mitigate against the dangers of surgical plume and how to implement changes. Topics Include: Electrosurgery/diathermy/laser. Anaesthetic airway fires. Laparoscopic surgery aerosolisation. Health and Safety and risk assessment. Surgical plume. Register
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Content ArticleTheatres are a high risk area. This poster from the Association for Perioperative Practice and BD illustrates how to plan and practise to manage a surgical fire. Download a pdf of the poster from the attachment below.
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Content ArticleShift work can introduce additional health, safety and wellbeing challenges. This article explore some of these challenges, including the increased risk of injury or illness, sleep and fatigue problems, psychological health, and suggest ways you can ensure safe and healthy shift work.
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Content ArticleThis resource from the Royal College of Nursing encourages health and social care managers to ensure that nursing staff are taking their at-work breaks, are well hydrated and have access to nutritional food. It outlines the case for making improvements and the legal responsibilities of employing organisations, and provides tips and case studies to support the implementation of improvements. The document is supported by a short guide for nursing staff and posters to encourage nursing staff to self-care and take steps to rest, rehydrate and refuel.
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Content Article
As reported recently, the Scottish Healthcare Workers Coalition called upon the Scottish Government to reinstate 'universal masking' in health and social care settings. In this statement written in support of their campaign, an occupational safety and health practitioner, David Osborn, explains the legal requirements for risk assessments that the Government ought to have undertaken before reaching such a decision that exposes healthcare staff to the life-changing consequences associated with repeat Covid-19 infections. He also explains the legal duty of the Government to consult with workers before implementing changes that may affect their health and safety. Neither duty (risk assessment nor prior consultation with workers) appears to have been well met, putting the Scottish Government and Health Boards in breach of UK-wide health and safety law. -
Content Article
This blog from Matthew Bacon, CEO of TCC-CASEMIX Ltd, looks at why a multi-factorial dataset is needed to create holistic understanding of medical device performance and is the only effective means for determining the multi-factorial causes of failure. -
News Article
Republic of Ireland: Most HSE staff felt negative change at work during pandemic
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The vast majority of HSE staff in the Republic of Ireland felt supported during the COVID-19 pandemic but more than half felt there has been a negative change in their working environment, a new survey has found. Staff across the health service were asked about their work, and responses from almost 13,000 staff showed a mixed impact since the pandemic with staff saying they were more enthusiastic about their job than in 2018 but were less optimistic about their future in the health service. Three in 10 said they had been subject to assault from the public in the past two years. One in three felt more positively towards the HSE since before the pandemic began. The survey found there had been an increase in the satisfaction with the level of care delivered since 2018 but almost 4 in 10 felt the service delivered was deteriorating. There was a strong sense of job security among staff, but satisfaction levels have fallen back on the previous survey three years ago. A third said they were dissatisfied at present. Despite the fact that an anti-bullying taskforce was set up after the previous survey, the same number of staff reported experiences of being bullied by a colleague as in 2018. Three in 10 said they had experienced bullying or harassment at work from a manager, team leader or other colleagues. Read full story Source: The Irish Times, 6 December 2021 -
News ArticleAlmost half of NHS Trusts in England have reported risks classified as “significant” or “extreme”, with issues facing funding, buildings and failing equipment, according to an analysis by Labour. Highlighting warnings of staff shortages and patient safety, the party demanded urgent action from the government to prepare the health service for the winter months as cases of COVID-19 accelerate across the country. Labour said its study of 114 NHS Trusts’ risks registers showed that over three quarters of trusts logged a workforce risk. The analysis also revealed that 66% reported a financial risk, 82% highlighted risks directly related to COVID-19 and 84% recorded a risk to patient safety. Almost half of Trusts (54), the party said, had outlined risks described as “significant” or “extreme”. One hospital trust reported it was “not financially stable” beyond the current financial year while another recorded a potential risk to patient safety due to “structural deficiencies” in roof structure. NHS hospitals are expected to consider risks to their operations and processes and when risks are identified, it is likely they will have been considered at board level and mitigations put in place. Describing the registers – compiled between March and August - as “worrying” in a normal winter, Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “In the coming winter, with the incompetent handling of the test and trace system leaving the NHS wide open and poorly supported, they take on a whole new meaning." "We urgently need a commitment from ministers to fix the problems with test and trace and a timetable by which these issues will finally be sorted. On top of this it is vital that ministers confirm that the NHS will get the additional support it needs to address these risks." Read full story Source: The Independent, 6 October 2020
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News ArticleThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an overview report on the lessons learned from notifications of significant incident events in Ireland arising from accidental or unintended medical exposures in 2019. In 2019, HIQA received 68 notifications of significant events of accidental or unintended medical exposures to patients in public and private facilities, which is a small percentage of significant incidents relative to the total number of procedures taking place which can be conservatively estimated at over three million exposures a year.The most common errors reported were patient identification failures, resulting in an incorrect patient receiving an exposure. These errors happened at various points in the patient pathway which, while in line with previous reporting nationally and international data, highlights an area for improvement.John Tuffy, Regional Manager for Ionising Radiation, said “The overall findings of our report indicate that the use of radiation in medicine in Ireland is generally quite safe for patients. The incidents which were reported to HIQA during 2019 involved relatively low radiation doses which posed limited risk to service users. However, there have been radiation incidents reported internationally which resulted in severe detrimental effects to patients so ongoing vigilance and attention is required." John Tuffy, continued “As the regulator of medical exposures, HIQA has a key role in the receipt and evaluation of notifications received. While a significant event is unwanted, reporting is a key demonstrator of a positive patient safety culture. A lack of reporting does not necessarily demonstrate an absence of risk. Reporting is important, not only to ensure an undertaking is compliant but because it improves general patient safety in a service and can minimise the probability of future preventative events occurring.” Read full story Source: HIQA, 9 September 2020
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News ArticleNearly half the hospitals targeted in covid-related spot checks were found to be breaching health and safety laws. An unpublished Health and Safety Executive report found just five out of 17 acute hospitals inspected had high levels of compliance with measures to manage the risks around covid. Meanwhile, letters were sent to eight hospitals “formally requiring them to take remedial action to remedy contraventions of health and safety law”. The remaining four hospitals were given advice. The inspections — which involved 13 hospitals in England and two each in Scotland and Wales — focused on seven areas: risk assessment; management arrangements specific to covid; social distancing; cleaning and hygiene; ventilation; dealing with suspected covid cases; and personal protective equipment. The health and safety watchdog highlighted social distancing in non-clinical areas — which covered areas outside of clinical wards such as offices, rest areas, changing rooms and workshops — as needing improvement in some hospitals. The inspectors — who visited between November last year and January this year — also found some hospitals needed more robust covid security measures if they were to comply with government guidance. HSE also noted that, although all the hospitals had adequate supplies of PPE, not all had adequate arrangements in place for ensuring it was used effectively. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 5 May 2021
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EventWebinar to report on progress with updating the ISO 23908 standard on safety mechanisms in the design and manufacture of devices and the prevention of sharps injuries. See the agenda below. Agenda for webinar on 22.06.22 at 09.00 updating the ISO 23908 standard on safety mechanisms and the prevention of sharps injuries.docx Click here to join the meeting
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Content ArticleThis second comprehensive edition of these Principles is to help public authorities, industry and communities worldwide anticipate accidents involving hazardous substances resulting from technological and natural disasters, as well as sabotage. It addresses the following issues: preventing the occurrence of chemical accidents and near-misses; preparing for accidents through emergency planning, public communication, etc.; responding to accidents and minimising their adverse effects; and following-up to accidents, regarding clean-up, reporting and investigation.
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Content ArticleStep Change in Safety is a member-led organisation which is working to make the UKCS the safest oil and gas province in the world in which to work. The safety of the workforce always comes first. Through collaboration, sharing knowledge and adopting best practices, workforce safety in the UKCS can be continually improved and Step Change in Safety are at the forefront in delivering that. Take a look at Step Change in Safety's resources and see how they could apply to healthcare.
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Content Article
Occupational health and safety ISO 45001
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Applying standards
ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, is the world’s first International Standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S). It provides a framework to increase safety, reduce workplace risks and enhance health and well-being at work, enabling an organisation to proactively improve its OH&S performance -
Content ArticleISO 45001 is an international standard for health and safety at work developed by national and international standards committees independent of government. Introduced in March 2018, it replaces the current standard (BS OHSAS 18001) which will be withdrawn. Businesses have a three-year period to move from the old standard to the new one. You're not required by law to implement ISO 45001 or other similar management standards, but they can help provide a structured framework for ensuring a safe and healthy workplace.
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Content ArticleThis revised edition of one of HSE's most popular guides is mainly for leaders, owners and line managers. It will particularly help those who need to put in place or oversee their organisation's health and safety arrangements. The advice may also help workers and their representatives, as well as health and safety practitioners and training providers.
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Content ArticleThe Piper Alpha exploded and sank on 6 July 1988, killing 165 of the men on board. Some of the lessons learned from the inquiry into the Piper Alpha Disaster could be applied to healthcare.
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Content ArticleGovernments in England, Scotland and Wales recently withdrew covid sick leave for NHS staff. These changes to sick pay provision for staff on Covid-related sick pay is hard to understand at a time when Covid-19 infections are going up exponentially and many NHS organisations are reporting increasing numbers of staff off sick. Evidence is emerging that your chances of on-going issues (Long Covid) following a covid infection increase with each re-infection. Given this you might expect that NHS organisations were ensuring their infection control guidelines guaranteed staff were fully protected against Covid-19. However, in many Trusts this does not appear to be the case. Throughout the pandemic many NHS organisations seem to have focused on following Government guidelines about PPE requirements and ignored their obligations under Health and Safety Legislation. This has resulted in on-going shortcomings in protecting staff at work. This is discussed by Professor Raymond Agius and colleagues in a BMJ blog.
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Content ArticleForeign body ingestions are common events among paediatric patients. Button battery ingestions are particularly dangerous. Although the incidence of button battery ingestions has not changed over the last 30 years, the rates of emergency department visits, major morbidity, and mortality have risen dramatically since the introduction of the 3-volt–20 mm lithium batteries in 2006. These batteries are larger and more powerful than their predecessors, which has increased the incidence of esophageal impaction and significant tissue injury. The overall incidence of major morbidity or mortality after button battery ingestion is 0.42%. However, in children under six years old who ingest batteries >20 mm, the rates of major complications are as high as 12.6%. All reported fatalities have occurred in children under five years old. This article in the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation newsletter looks at the perioperative management of children who have ingested a button battery.
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Content ArticlePerioperative practitioners in the UK are universally concerned about the risk surgical smoke plume poses to their health. Yet less than a fifth are aware of any policy being in place to manage this risk within their organisation. The majority of hospitals have plume evacuation equipment in place, but it is only used in the minority of surgical procedures. Almost three-quarters of theatre staff have experienced symptoms associated with exposure to surgical smoke plume. But these symptoms are rarely reported and, when they are, no action is generally taken. These are the findings of a new report published by the Surgical Plume Alliance (SPA), a joint advocacy initiative between the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) and the International Council on Surgical Plume (ICSP). They aimed to gain a greater understanding of the awareness levels, training, management and policy surrounding surgical smoke plume in the UK.
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Content ArticleLucy is a world-leading authority on recovering from disaster. She has been at the centre of the most seismic events of the last few decades, advising on everything from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami to the 7/7 bombings, the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, the Grenfell fire and the Covid-19 pandemic. In every catastrophe, Lucy is there to pick up the pieces and prepare for the next one. She holds governments to account, helps communities rally together, returns personal possessions to families, and holds the hands of the survivors. In her moving memoir she reveals what happens in the aftermath and explores how we pick up and rebuild with strength and perseverance. She takes us behind the police tape to scenes of destruction and chaos, introducing us to victims and their families, but also to the government briefing rooms and bunkers, where confusion and stale biscuits can reign supreme. Telling her own personal story, Lucy looks back at a life spent on the edges of disaster, from a Liverpudlian childhood steeped in the Hillsborough tragedy to the many losses and loves of her career.
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Content Article
HSE: Health and safety management systems
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Organisational
A formal management system or framework can help you manage health and safety. The Health and Safety Executive (HEE) highlights standards, documentation and useful resources.
